Play the Man
Play the Game of Life: Strategies for Success
Lyrics
They play the ball they play the man
Emphasizes engagement in the game and confrontation, suggesting a competitive context.
They do whatever they can
Highlighting a willingness to employ any means necessary to achieve success.
Use whatever they can to succeed
Stressing the use of all available resources to attain goals.
Watching you sanitize
Suggests a scrutiny of the person being addressed, possibly with a critical eye.
They spit in your eye
Indicates a disrespectful action, challenging the individual being observed.
And they tell you how you should proceed
Advises onlookers about how to act, potentially with an arrogant tone.
With the player of games
Refers to individuals actively participating in competitive games.
You'll find no sense of shame
Points to a lack of remorse or guilt in those engaged in competition.
Single minded in all that they do
Describes a focused and determined approach in their actions.
So what you do then is to do unto them
Suggests a strategy of reciprocity, responding to others as they would respond to you.
What they would've done unto you
Encourages retaliation or mirroring the actions of others.
So play the ball play the man
Reiterates the theme of active participation in games and confrontations.
Do whatever you can when it's the only way
Urges using any available means when it is the only option for progress.
To get through
Emphasizes the necessity of unorthodox approaches to overcome challenges.
Oh and don't think twice about playing nice
Advises against being overly considerate or polite, portraying it as unwise counsel.
It's just bad advice from thе fools
Criticizes the suggestion to act kindly, labeling it as misguided.
'Cause the fools don't know
Highlights the ignorance of those advocating for niceness.
Of the so-and-sos
Refers to unidentified individuals who might criticize without understanding.
Who would see thеm dining on gruel
Depicts a scenario where critics face adversity, possibly harsh conditions.
They play the ball they play the man
Reiterates the theme of active participation in games and confrontations.
They do whatever they can
Repeats the idea of employing any means available for success.
Use whatever they can to succeed
Restates the emphasis on using all resources to achieve goals.
Watching you sanitize
Repeats the notion of scrutiny, possibly in a judgmental manner.
They spit in your eye
Reiterates a disrespectful action, reinforcing the confrontational tone.
And they tell you how you should proceed
Reemphasizes advice on how to act, potentially maintaining an arrogant tone.
With the player of games
Refers again to individuals actively participating in competitive games.
You'll find no sense of shame
Restates the lack of remorse or guilt in those engaged in competition.
Single minded in all that they do
Reiterates the description of a focused and determined approach in their actions.
So what you do then is to do unto them
Reemphasizes the strategy of reciprocity, encouraging retaliation.
What they would've done unto you
Repeats the encouragement of mirroring the actions of others as a response.
So play the ball play the man
Reiterates the theme of active participation in games and confrontations.
Do whatever you can when it's the only way
Reiterates the urgency of using any available means when it is the only option for progress.
You can get through
Concludes by emphasizing the importance of unorthodox approaches to overcome challenges.
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